Weft replenishing mechanism



0C@ 3l w33 A. A. GQRDON ,932,778

I'EFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM Filed July 3, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l influx Hmm, mi" WWII I Hullmghn l O jim/EN TUR LE/-f TA E0/@DUV @am 3l, E933. A. A. GoRDoN WEFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM Filed July 3, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 LA Tra/@PNE /5 sheets-Sheet 5 A. GORDON WEFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM Filed July 3. 1931 0m, 3L, 1933.. A. A. GoRDoN WEFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM Filed July 5, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 6 um M ALBE ` Awww/vif Patented Oct. 31, 1933 UNITED STATESv WEFT REPLENISHIN G VIVIECHANISM Albert A. Gordon, Worcester, Mass., assigner to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester,- Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application kJuly 3, 1931. Serial No. 548,607

11 Claims.

It is the general object of my invention to provide improved means for effecting transfer of a fresh bobbin to an exhausted shuttle.

A further object is to provide means for preventing injury to the shuttle or the fresh bobbin when the shuttle fails to box correctly on the transfer pick. lI also provide means `for-releasing and discharging a bobbin which fails of transfer.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown inthe drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of a loom ernbodying my improvements, with the shuttle boxes shown in section; y

Fig` 2 is an enlarged side elevation, partlyv in section, of the magazine and replenishing mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of certain parts of the magazine, looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view, taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional plan view, taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 2; Y

Fig. 6 is a sectional. front elevation, takenV bin holders 14 and 15 (Fig. 2), and suitable meansy is provided for depressing the vholder containing bobbins corresponding to the indicated shuttle. The mechanism for selecting, and depressing one of the bobbin holders is not shown in full detail in this application, but includes a rock shaft or so called color slidef 20 (Fig. 1) `which may be moved axially by a bell crank 21` and link 22. lThe link 22 is connected to the usual box-lifting ymechanism of the loom, so that the position of the rock wshaft always corresponds to the position of the drop boxes l2.`

The rock shaft 20 is provided with fingers 24, (Fig. 3) adapted to be moved into alignment with projections 25 on the bobbin holders 14 and 15. 60 In one axial position of the rock shaft 20, a finger 24 is aligned with the projection 2,5 of thevbobbin holder 14, and in the other position of the rock shaft a finger 24 is aligned with the projection 25 of the bobbin holder 15.

An arm 30 (Fig. l) is secured to the rock shaft 20 and is connected byva link 3l to an arm 32 on a rock shaft 33. The shaft 33 is actuated by cam mechanism (not shown) to move the arm 32 upward and rock the fingers 24 downward-to defi 70 press a selected bobbin holder upon indication ofl weft exhaustion.

A second arm 35 is secured to the rock shaft 33,` and supports a plate 36 which is connected by a link 37 to an upright rod 38 which swings abouta 75' xed pivot 39 and which is normally held in forward position, as shown in Fig. l, by a spring 40.

The plate 36 is provided with a segmental slot 42, having an oisetend portion 43. The slot 42l receives a stud 45 on the upper end of an arm 46, 8G mounted to swing about a fixed pivot 47. An arm 48 is connected to the arm 46 and is provided with a cam roll 49 engaged by a double-lobed cam 50 onl thek bottom on cam shaft 51 of the loom. A spring 52-holds the roll 49 yieldingly against the 85 face of the cam 50.

Under normal conditions, the stud 45 oscillates freely in the segmental slot 42, but upon indication of transfer, the arm 35 raises the plate 36 so that the ,stud 45 is positioned inthe offset portion 90 43 of the slot and acts to swing the rod 38 rearward.

A transfer member is secured to the upper end of therod 38 and is provided with raised end portions 6l and 62, adapted to engage the lower- 95 most bobbin B in the depressed holder 14 or- 15 and to move the bobbin to the rearward dotted; line position indicated at B in Fig. 2. Y

-A latch 64 (Fig. 5) is pivoted at 65 on the transfer member 60 and is yieldingly pressed outward 100 against a xed guiding surface 66 by a spring 67. When the transfer member 60is moved rearward, the latch 64 engages a notch V.or shoulder. 68 (Fig. 5) and temporarily prevents returnr or forward movement of the transfer member. The extreme forward position of the transfer memberls determined by a stop screw l0- (Fig. 5) adjustable in a depending fixed flange 7l.

A bobbin-supporting plate 73 (Figs. 2, and 4) normally extends rearward of the raised end portions 61 and 62 of the transfer member and is held yieldingly in such rearward position by a spring '74 (Fig. 2).

A bobbin-supporting rod 16 (Figs. 2 and 3) underlies and supports the bobbin B as it is moved rearward by the transfer member 60. The rod 76 is mounted on a lever 77 pivoted at 78 on a fixed portion of the magazine M. 'I'he upper end of the lever 7'7 is connected by a link 79 to an arm 80 fixed to the forward end of the rock shaft or color slide 20. The link 79 is provided with swivel connections to the lever '77 and arm 80, whereby sliding movement of the arm 80 with the rock shaft 20 may be permitted.

When the rock shaft is rocked to deprw a. bobbin holder 14 or 15, the rod 76 is moved under the bobbin B about to be transferred, aS indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The rod 76 thus assists the support '13 in preventing displacement of the.'

bobbin during its rearward movement.

A retaining plate 82 (Fig. 2) is secured to an arm 83 pivoted on a cross rod 84 of the magazine M. Thearm 83 and retaining plate 82 are yieldingly swung forward by a spring 85 on the cross Arod 84. As a bobbin B is pushed rearward to transfer position, the plate 82 moves rearward to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, thus assisting in holding the bobbin B against the ends of the portions 61 and 62 of the transfer member 60.

Transfer is effected by the forward movement of the lay, which advances the drop boxes 12 and the shuttles S and S relative to the magazine. As the lay approaches front center, the fresh bobbin is engaged by the exhausted bobbin in the shuttle. As the fresh bobbin is held rigidly in rearward position by the latch 64, the exhausted bobbin is ejected from the shuttle through a slot in the rear wall ofthe drop box.

During such movement, the upper part of the binder 90 engages the lower end of the arm 83 and pushes the retaining plate 82 forward. The Vplate 82 is formed of relatively light and resilient material, so that it easily slips over the top of the bobbin B'. At the same time, the lower portion of the binder engages the supporting slide 73 and moves the slide forward so that it is clear of the shuttle S.

It is necessary that the transfer lmember 60 vbe released and permitted to move forward after transfer is completed. For this purpose the latch 64 (Fig. 8) is provided with an arm 92 having an offset end portion 93. A stud 94- is mounted in a slide 95 (Fig. 4)-, movable in xed bearings 96 and 97. The slide 95 is yieldingly pressed rearward by a coil spring 98 and the stud 94 is thus positioned for engagement bythe forwardly offset end 99 of the binder 90.

As the binder continues to move forward after transfer, the offset end 99A thereof engages the stud 94, pushing the slide 95 forward and causing the end of the stud 94 to engage the offset end 93 of the arm 9-2, thus releasing the latch 64 and allowing the transfer member 69 to return ,to its normal Yor forward position.

It sometimes happens that' a shuttle S fails tobox correctly on the transfer pick'and itis then necessaryl to release the transfer member 60 to avoid injury to the shuttle or to the bobbin.

Ilbr this purpose, the rear end of the slide 95- (Fig. 4) is extended so that it will be engaged by a shuttle whichis misplaced as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. On such engagement, thefslide 95 be moved forward substantially earlier than when engaged by the binder end 99, and

this early forward movement releases the latch 64 before the bobbin B is engaged by the misplaced shuttle.

When the transfer member 60 is thus released before transfer takes place, the bobbin supported by the transfer member falls to the floor, as'the transfer member moves forward, and the parts are thus restored to condition to receive another bobbin upon further indication of transfer. Otherwise a shift in shuttles might occur and the bobbin previously advanced to transfer position might be inserted in the wrong shuttle.

In order that the stud 94 will not be engaged by the binder end 99 during normal operation of the loom, I provide a latch 100 (Figs. 4 and '7) adapted to engage a notch 101 near the front end of the slide 95. The latch 100 is mounted on a rod 102, slidable lengthwise in a xed bearing and provided with a spring 103 yieldingly tending to move the latch 100 to engaging position.

The rod 102 is also provided with an offset end 105 (Fig. 4) positioned for engagement by a cam projection 106 on the outer side of the end portion 61 of the transfer member 60.

The slide 95 is normally held by the latch 100 in the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 4, in which position it is not engaged by the offset binder end 99as the lay approaches front center. When the transfer member 69 moves rearward, however, the cam 106 moves the latch 100 and thus releases' the slide 95, which thereupon moves rearward to position for engagement by the binder end 99.

I have `thus provided means for moving a selected bobbin B to rearward transfer position and for firmly supporting the bobbin in such position during the forward movement of the lay, by which forward movement transfer is effected.

As soon as the transfer is completed, the binder end 99 causes the latch 64 to be released so that the transfer member 69 may return to normal position. If the shuttle is misplaced, the slide 95 is directly engaged by the shuttle, causing earlier release of the latch 64, followed by discharge of the bobbin B from the transfer member.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I dol not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than asset forth in the claims', but what I claim is:-

1. In a weft replenishing loom. a magazine, a transfer member, means to position a selected bobbin in the path of said transfer member upon indication of weft exhaustion, means to move said transfer member and bobbin rearward toward the shuttle to be replenished, means to hold said member and bobbin Vin fixed rearward position while the shuttle completes its forward movement, thereby completing transfer, and means movable forwardlyl with the shuttle and effective to release said transfer member as the forward movement of the shuttle during transfer is completed.

2. In a weft replenishing loom, a magasine,` a transfer member, means to position a selected bobbinin the path of said transfer member upon indication of weft exhaustion, means to move said transfer member and bobbin rearward toward the shuttle to be replenished', a resilient device engaging the rear face of said bobbin and effective to press said bobbin against the rearl 5f' face of said transfer member during rearward movement of said' member and bobbin, and means to hold said member and bobbin in fixed rearward position while the shuttle completes itsv forward' movement, thereby completing transfer.

3. In a weft replenishing loom, a magazine, a transfer member, means to position a selected bobbin in the path of said transfer member upon indication of weft exhaustion, means to move said transfer member and bobbin rearward toward the shuttle to be replenished, a resilient device effective to retain said bobbin against the rear face of said transfer member during rearward movement of said member and bobbin, means to hold said member and bobbin in fixed rearward position while the shuttle completes its forward movement, thereby completing transfer, and means to remove said resilient device from retaining position as transfer takes place.

4. In a weft replenishing loom, a magazine, a transfer member, means to position a selected bobbin in the path of said transfer member upon indication of weft exhaustion, means to move said transfer member and bobbin rearward to-Y ward the shuttle to be replenished, means to hold said member and bobbin in fixed rearward position while the shuttle completes its forward movement, thereby completing transfer, an underlying support for said bobbin during its rearward movement, and means to move said support to operative posittion just prior to the rearward movement of the transfer member and bobbin.

5. In a weft replenishing loom, a magazine, a transfer member, means to position a selected bobbin in the path of said transfer member upon indication of weft exhaustion, means to move said transfer member and bobbin rearward toward the shuttle to be replenished, means to hold said member and bobbin in fixed rearward position while the shuttle completes its forward movement, thereby completing transfer, an underlying support for said bobbin during its rearward movement, and means to move said support to operative position just prior to the rearward movement of the transfer'member and bobbin and to return said support to normal inoperative position after transfer is completed or revoked.

6. In a weft replenishing loom, a magazine, a transfer member, means to position a selected bobbin in the path of said transfer member upon indication of weft exhaustion, means to move said transfer member and bobbin rearward toward the shuttle to be replenished, means to hold said transfer member in rearward position during completion of transfer, and means engaged by the shuttle and effective to release said transfer member if the shuttle is moved forward in partially boxed position.

7. The combination in a weft replenishing loom as set forth in claim 6, in which a device is provided to hold said releasing means normally in inoperative position, said holding device being removed from holding position as said transfer member is moved rearward.

8. The combination in a weft replenishingil loom as set forth in claim 6, in which a device is provided to hold said releasing means normally in inoperative position, said holding device having a portion positioned adjacent said transfer member, and said transfer member having a cam portion engaging said holding device and removing said device from holding position upon rearward movement of said transfer member.

9. In a weft replenishing loom, a magazine, a transfer member, means to position a selected bobbin in the path of said transfer member upon indication of weft exhaustion, means to move said transfer member and bobbin rearward toward the shuttle to be replenished, a latch to hold saidV transfer member in rearward position during completion of the transfer, kand a shuttle feeler effective to release said latch upon engagement of said feeler by a forwardly moving misplaced shuttle.

10. In a weft replenishing loom, a magazine, a transfer member, means to position a selected bobbin in the path of said transfer member upon indication of Aweft exhaustion, means to move said transfer member and bobbin rearward toward the shuttle to be replenished, a latch to hold said transfer member in rearward position during completion of the transfer, an arm connected to said latch, a slide mounted for forward and rearward movement and positioned for engagement by a forwardly moving misplaced shuttle, and a connection between said slide and said arm whereby said latch may be released.

11. In a weft replenishing loom, a magazine, a transfer member, means to position a selected bobbin in the path of said transfer member upon indication of weft exhaustion,`means to move said transfer member and bobbin rearward toward the shuttle to b e replenished, a latch to hold said transfer member in rearward position during completion of the transfer, means to engage and release said latch upon completion of transfer, and additional means to release said latch if the shuttle is only partially boxed.

ALBERT A. GORDON. 

